Sky has some opposition at last, but will this service outlast the other BBC / ITV collaboration that crashed a while ago, - perhaps the HD content will give this free to air satellite service a boost,and when the hard disc recorder models are available will it not threaten the established Sky HDef box and the price of their programs ? is this the beginning of the end for rip off tv providers ??
I have my doubts mate. Virgin Media (a not inconsiderable company themselves) recently tried to unsettle Sky's dominance to minimal effect. The problem is multi-faceted. Sky have cornered the market in terms of new programme material as their buying power outstrips the competition. Most channels are already incorporated under the Sky umbrella and there is a need for them to negotiate with other providers to increase choice?
The ulimate irony for Virgin Media was that as soon as they contested the provision of Sky's channels, Sky pulled the plug on a select range, and Cable customers immediately migrated to Sky to restore lost services !! That really helped to undermine Sky (!) This left Virgin minus a sizeable chunk of their customer base and it reached the point where they were haemorrhaging customers to Sky to such an extent they were forced to compete on charges to limit damage. Queues for new satellite dish installations were months long....
I stayed with the Cable company because I hate monopolies.... (but Virgin did give me a discount )
My brother just left virgin for sky HD, only when he informed of change did they offer reduction on billing,
After viewing HD i have to say i have got the itch to get it, been a sky customer for over seven years, and seen prices rise and rise, no i am not tight,? but if i can get just as good a Hd plus upscaled 1080i picture plus 5.1 surround sound for a one off payment that will give me over eighty channels, although only four HD channels, would this make sense to dive in now - hoping other HD channels will follow ??? plus saving me over thirty pounds a month ?????? Cheers ....Carl.
High Def is not on my radar at the moment, as I'm seeking to extract as much life out of my old CRT as possible .
Having said that, I've been occasionally caught looking at Reviews of 37"-42" 1080i/p, or standing with my nose pressed up against TV showroom windows, with a view to it's replacement so may find myself at a similar crossroads fairly soon !
Having bought a panny CRT 32in, some twelve months later my brother rang to ask what he should buy plasma/lcd, make etc, - he agreed on my choice of Panasonic 42" plasma th42px70, so up to his house on day of delivery to set it up for him, Got to say my choice was spot on fantastic tv, some five months later my wallet was waiting for prices to fall? but the urge to get it got the better of me - yes i am spoilt i know, but after my spell off work and reason for it, thought blow it - may not be a tomorrow ? kids all grown - now its my turn to get spoilt. Dont you agree?
